Device having a diskette-like housing and a wireless transceiver and methods therefor

Abstract

An interface device includes at least one of an infrared receiver (14) and an infrared transmitter (16) to communicate with an external device (39). The infrared receiver (14) and/or the infrared transmitter (16) is supported by a diskette-like housing (10). A transducer (30) supported by the diskette-like housing (10) facilitates communication between the interface device and a diskette drive (12). Methods of using the interface device are disclosed.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An apparatus comprising: a diskette-like housing which defines a spindle-receiving portion; and   an infrared receiver externally-accessible at a central portion of an end of the diskette-like housing, wherein the infrared receiver overlaps at least a portion of the spindle-receiving portion along a length of the diskette-like housing.   
     
     
       2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the infrared receiver is externally-accessible when the diskette-like housing is inserted into a diskette drive. 
     
     
       3. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a transducer responsive to the infrared receiver, the transducer accessible at a first portion of the diskette-like housing, the infrared receiver accessible at a second portion of the diskette-like housing. 
     
     
       4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the diskette-like housing is receivable by a 3.5" diskette drive. 
     
     
       5. An apparatus comprising: a diskette-like housing which defines a spindle-receiving portion; and   an infrared transmitter externally-accessible at a central portion of an end of the diskette-like housing, wherein the infrared transmitter overlaps at least a portion of the spindle-receiving portion along a length of the diskette-like housing.   
     
     
       6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the infrared transmitter is externally-accessible when the diskette-like housing is inserted into a diskette drive. 
     
     
       7. The apparatus of claim 5 further comprising a transducer accessible at a first half of the diskette-like housing, wherein the infrared transmitter is accessible at a second half of the diskette-like housing and is responsive to the transducer. 
     
     
       8. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the diskette-like housing is receivable by a 3.5" diskette drive. 
     
     
       9. An apparatus comprising: a diskette-like housing;   an infrared receiver externally-accessible at a central portion of an end of the diskette-like housing; and   a transducer responsive to the infrared receiver to generate a magnetic field associated with data received by the infrared receiver, wherein the magnetic field is directly readable by a read head of a diskette drive;   wherein the infrared receiver overlaps at least a portion of the transducer along a length of the diskette-like housing.   
     
     
       10. An apparatus comprising: a diskette-like housing;   a transducer directly sensitive to a magnetic field produced by a write head of a diskette drive to receive data; and   an infrared transmitter externally-accessible at a central portion of an end of the diskette-like housing, the infrared transmitter responsive to the transducer to generate an infrared signal associated with the data received by the transducer;   wherein the infrared transmitter overlaps at least a portion of the transducer along a length of the diskette-like housing.